Adjustable hinge assembly

ABSTRACT

An adjustable hinge assembly has a stationary leaf, a pivoting leaf, an extending arm and a mounting bracket. The stationary leaf connects securely to a base of a portable electronic device. The pivoting leaf is connected pivotally to the stationary leaf. The extending arm is mounted slidably on the pivoting leaf. The mounting bracket is mounted rotatably in the extending arm and connects securely to a cover of the portable electronic device having a rear edge. Consequently, the adjustable hinge assembly enables the portable electronic device to have a unique appearance and change position of the cover before opening the electronic device to prevent the cover from hitting the base.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a hinge, and more particularly to an adjustable hinge assembly that pivotally attaches a cover to a base so movement of the cover is not restricted by the base and allows a portable electronic device to be configured uniquely.

2. Description of Related Art

Portable electronic devices like calculators, translation dictionaries, notebook computers, mobile phones and the like generally comprise a base, a cover and at least one hinge.

The hinge connects the cover pivotally to the base at adjacent edges of the cover and the base and comprises two leaves and a pintle. The leaves are connected securely respectively to the cover and the base and have barrels that correspond to and align with each other. The pintle is mounted through the barrels of the leaves.

However, with technology improving, the performance of portable electronic devices with conventional hinges that only allow covers to pivot relative to the bases is becoming obsolete.

If the base or the cover is thick, the edge of the cover adjacent to the base will inevitably hit the base when the cover is pivoted, which restricts the cover to a limited viewing angle and is inconvenient.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides an adjustable hinge assembly to obviate or mitigate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide an adjustable hinge assembly that enables a portable electronic device to be uniquely configured and to change position of a cover attached to a base before opening the electronic device to prevent the cover from hitting the base.

The adjustable hinge assembly in accordance with the present invention comprises a stationary leaf, a pivoting leaf, an extending arm and a mounting bracket.

The stationary leaf connects securely to a base of a portable electronic device.

The pivoting leaf is connected pivotally to the stationary leaf.

The extending arm is mounted slidably on the pivoting leaf.

The mounting bracket is mounted rotatably in the extending arm and connects securely to a cover of the portable electronic device having a rear edge.

With such a configuration, the cover is able to pivot from an open configuration to an inclined configuration with the rear edge abutting the base. Consequently, the portable electronic device with the adjustable hinge assembly can be configured to have an unique appearance resembling a picture frame, a personal TV or the like.

Otherwise, the extending arm and the cover may be pushed to move relative to the base. Consequently, the rear edge of the cover is kept from hitting the base and the rotating angle of the cover is expanded.

Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an adjustable hinge assembly in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the adjustable hinge assembly in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional front view of the adjustable hinge assembly in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an operational side view of the adjustable hinge assembly in FIG. 1 attached to and protruding perpendicularly from a portable electronic device;

FIG. 5 is an operational side view of the adjustable hinge assembly in FIG. 1 attached to and protruding at an angle from the portable electronic device; and

FIG. 6 is an operational perspective view of the portable electronic device in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 1, 4 and 6, an adjustable hinge assembly in accordance with present invention is used on a portable electronic device (70) having a base (72) and a cover (71) and comprises a stationary leaf (10), a pivoting leaf (20), an extending arm (30) and a mounting bracket (60). The cover (71) has a rear, a panel (710) and a rear edge. The panel (710) is mounted in the cover (71) and is usually a flat panel display. The rear edge is formed along the rear of the cover (71) and is adjacent to the base (72) when the cover (71) is open.

The stationary leaf (10) is attached securely to the base (72) of the portable electronic device (70) and has a distal end, a proximal end and a connecting tab (11). The connecting tab (11) is formed on and protrudes up from the proximal end perpendicular to the base (72) and has a top edge and a gudgeon. The gudgeon is formed through the connecting tab (11) of the stationary leaf (10) near the top edge.

The pivoting leaf (20) is connected pivotally to the stationary leaf (10) and has a pivoting end, a connecting end, a through hole, a pintle (21) and a mounting tab (22). The through hole is formed through the pivoting end of the pivoting leaf (20) and aligns with the gudgeon of the connecting tab (11). The pintle (21) is mounted rotatably in the gudgeon of the stationary leaf (10) and the through hole of the pivoting leaf (20) and has multiple optional washers (210). The washers (210) are mounted around the pintle (21). With further reference to FIG. 2, the mounting tab (22) is formed on the connecting end of the pivoting leaf (20) and protrudes transversely from and parallel to the connecting end and has multiple connecting holes (220). The connecting holes (220) are formed through the mounting tab (22) in a longitudinal line.

The extending arm (30) is mounted slidably on the mounting tab (22) of the pivoting leaf (20) and has a proximal end, a middle, a sliding portion (31), a resilient boss plate (40) and multiple fasteners (50).

The sliding portion (31) corresponds to the mounting tab (22) of the pivoting leaf (20) and has an outer surface, an elongated hole (310) and at least two detents (311). The elongated hole (310) is formed longitudinally through the sliding portion (31) of the extending arm (30), aligns with the connecting holes (220) of the mounting tab (22) and has two ends. The detents (311) are formed in the outer surface of the sliding portion (31) of the extending arm (30) adjacent to the elongated hole (310).

The resilient boss plate (40) has an inner surface, an outer surface, multiple mounting holes (41) and a boss (42). With further reference to FIG. 3, the mounting holes (41) are formed through the resilient boss plate (40) and align respectively with the connecting holes (220) of the pivoting leaf (20), and each mounting hole (41) may have a resilient lip. The resilient lip protrudes from the outer surface. The boss (42) is formed on and protrudes from the inner surface of the resilient boss plate (40) and corresponds to and selectively engages one of the detents (311) to hold the extending arm (30) in position.

The fasteners (50) may be bolts, are mounted respectively through the mounting holes (41) of the resilient boss plate (40) and the elongated hole (310) of the extending arm (30), are secured respectively in the connecting holes (220) of the mounting tab (22) of the pivoting leaf (20) and press respectively against the resilient lips of the mounting holes (41) to hold the resilient boss plate (40) against the outer surface of the sliding portion (31) of the extending arm (30). Thus, how far the extending arm (30) will slide is determined by the sliding hole (310).

The mounting bracket (60) has multiple side tabs, multiple fixing holes (61) and a pivot post (62). The fixing holes (61) are formed respectively through the side tabs and are used to attach the mounting bracket (60) to the cover (71) with fasteners. The pivot post (62) protrudes transversely from the mounting bracket (60) and has a distal end. The distal end is mounted rotatably in the middle of the extending arm (30) to allow the extending arm to rotate relative the mounting bracket (60).

The adjustable hinge assembly as described has the advantage of being able to push the rear edge of the cover (71) away from the base (72) when the cover (71) of the portable electronic device (70) is pivoted relative to the base (72). Consequently, the rear edge of the cover (71) is kept from hitting the base (72) and the cover (71) can be pivoted relative to the base (72) much more.

With further reference to FIG. 5, the cover (71) is able to pivot by rotation of the mounting bracket (60) from an open configuration to an inclined configuration with the rear edge abutting the base (72). Consequently, the portable electronic device (70) with the adjustable hinge assembly can be configured to have a unique appearance resembling a picture frame or a personal TV, CD player or the like.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in detail especially in matters of shape, size and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

1. An adjustable hinge assembly comprising a stationary leaf having a distal end; a proximal end; and a connecting tab being formed on and protruding up from the proximal end; a pivoting leaf having a pivoting end being connected pivotally to the connecting tab of the stationary leaf; a connecting end; and a mounting tab being formed on the connecting end of the pivoting leaf; an extending arm having a proximal end; a middle; and a sliding portion corresponding to the mounting tab of the pivoting leaf and being mounted slidably on the mounting tab of the pivoting leaf; and a mounting bracket having a pivot post protruding transversely from the mounting bracket and having a distal end mounted rotatably in the extending arm.
 2. The adjustable hinge assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sliding portion of the extending arm further has an outer surface; and at least two detents being formed in the outer surface of the sliding portion; and the extending arm further has a resilient boss plate mounted securely to the connecting tab of the stationary leaf and having an inner surface; an outer surface; and a boss being formed on and protruding from the inner surface of the resilient boss plate and corresponding to and engaging one of the detents.
 3. The adjustable hinge assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the sliding portion of the extending arm further has an elongated hole being formed longitudinally through the sliding portion, aligning with the connecting holes of the mounting tab and having two ends; the resilient boss of the extending arm further has multiple mounting holes being formed through the resilient boss plate and aligning respectively with the connecting holes of the pivoting leaf; and the extending arm further has multiple fasteners being mounted respectively through the mounting holes of the resilient boss plate and the elongated hole of the extending arm and being secured respectively in the connecting holes of the mounting tab of the pivoting leaf.
 4. The adjustable hinge assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting tab of the stationary leaf further has a top edge; and a gudgeon being formed through the connecting tab near the top edge; and the pivoting leaf further has a through hole being formed through the pivoting end and aligning with the gudgeon of the connecting tab; and a pintle being mounted rotatably in the gudgeon of the stationary leaf and the through hole of the pivoting leaf and having multiple washers mounted around the pintle.
 5. The adjustable hinge assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mounting bracket further has multiple side tabs; and multiple fixing holes being formed respectively through the side tabs.
 6. The adjustable hinge assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein each mounting hole of the resilient boss plate further has a resilient lip protruding from the outer surface; and the fasteners of the extending arm press respectively against the resilient lips of the mounting holes.
 7. The adjustable hinge assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fasteners are bolts. 